Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson joined her counterpart in Wisconsin Monday in promoting the “Dose of Reality” media campaign to warn people of the dangers of misusing or overusing opioid painkillers.

Swanson said opioid abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, with “common household names” such as OxyContin turning deadly if overused and causing addictions that can lead people to use heroin as well.

“Our aim is to raise awareness about how to safely use, store, and dispose of opioid prescription painkillers,” Swanson said.

Opioids have killed more than 2,700 Minnesotans in the last 15 years. More than 80% of these deaths involved prescription drugs, and nearly 60% have occurred in the past 5 years. That’s why the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and the Anoka County Attorney’s Office have partnered to share a DOSE OF REALITY to help prevent prescription painkiller abuse in Minnesota.

Prescription drug abuse also can lead to the use of other “street drugs.” About 80% of heroin users previously abused prescription painkillers. Another opioid, called fentanyl, is 50-100 times more powerful than morphine and has caused overdose deaths in Minnesota.

The opioid crisis involves many stakeholders: people struggling with addiction and their friends and families, health care providers, pharmacists, insurers and third-party payors, employers, professional-licensing boards, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. We need all hands on deck to combat this problem. DoseOfReality.MN.gov aims to help in that effort.

More information, to view the “Does of Reality Video”, read brochures, view statistical data and more go to click here.